The 7,800-square-kilometre park contains rare species of animals including the critically endangered mountain gorillas only found in three countries in the world. the mountain gorillas in the south are the celebrity attraction that brings most visitors to the park.
Although the civil conflicts in the democratic republic of Congo claimed the lives of many mountain gorillas in the national park, it has now stabilized and gorilla tourism takes place there. There are six mountain gorilla families in the Virunga national park part of the virunga conservation area that stretches across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo.
Kabirizi gorilla family is the largest family in the national park with 32 members where as the other gorilla families include the lulengo family, nyakamwe family, humba family, mapuwa family and lugendo family. Gorilla tourism in the virunga national park is highly participated in since it is the only national park with mountain gorillas in the democratic republic of Congo.
The gorilla permit in the virunga national park is quite cheaper as compared to the neighboring Uganda and the republic of Rwanda. The mountain gorilla rules are the same as in Uganda and Rwanda, in that a 7-meter distance is encouraged between the traveler and the mountain gorillas and a maximum of 8 people are allowed to interact with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour.
Trekkers to the democratic republic of Congo are at a higher advantage of saving since the gorilla permit is cheaper yet the experience in all countries is the same.